Listed Building record MDO3735 - Church of St Mary at East Compton, Compton Abbas

Only the fifteenth-century tower and the west wall of the nave of the former parish church remain standing, built in rough greensand ashlar. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water.

ST 87561880 The ruined Church of St Mary stands in East Compton. Only the late 15th century west tower and the west wall of the former nave remain. A stone cross stands in the churchyard some 10 paces south east of the tower. It has a square stepped base, lower step with hollow-chamfered capping, chamfered square pedestal, and lower part of octagonal shaft with pyramidal stops. Probably 15th century. <2>

15th century tower of the old Church, grade I. (3)

The church tower and cross remain as described by RCHM <2> though in very poor condition. Revised at 1:2500 on AM. <4>

Tower of the former Church of St Mary. Grade I. <5>

Compton Abbas provides a good example of the population shift in this case caused by the construction of the Blandford and Shaftsbury Turnpike circa 1820 which reorientated communities on a North-South axis. The new Church of St Mary's (1866) was built near to the new road while the old church fell into decay. <6>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

ST 87561879 St Mary's Church (NR) (remains of) (NAT) ST 87571879 Cross (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 13-14 (Monograph). SDO99.

(2) THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY (87561880), ruined, stands in compton. Only the late 15th century West Tower and the W. wall of the former nave remain.

<3> DOE (HHR), Oct 1951, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Shaftesbury RD (Scheduling record). SDO17584.

5 Oct 1951

<4> Barrett, G, Various, Field Investigators Comments GB, F1 GB 09-JAN-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<5> DOE (HHR), List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: North Dorset, 13-14 (Scheduling record). SDO17666.

Jan 1985

<6> Good, R, 1979, Lost Villages of Dorset (Monograph). SWX1569.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205880 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 5:03PM